Extension-rail clamp



W. F. HENKE.

1 EXTENSION RAIL CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3. 1922.

1,427,737. PatentedAu 29, 1922. r

UNITED STATES raraar WILLIAM F. HENKE, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR- TOTHE CINCINNATI FROG 85 SWITCH COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF OHIO.

EXTENSION-RAIL CLAMP.

T 0 all whom it may concern 1 Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. Hnxxn,citizen of the United States, residing at New wood, in the countyofHamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use fulImprovements in Extension-Rail Clamps, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to clamps intended for securing extensionrails to the endsof permanent rails, or, in other words, by means ofthese clamps, it is possible to adjust the length of a track from timeto time in order to advance hoisting andcon veying machinery forremoving material located at the end of the track.

The invention is particularly useful in con nection with coal and oremining and excavationin general. The end of the permanent track isgenerally laid as close as possible to a pile of coal, for instance,which is to be removed. As the edge of the pile recedes, the limit ofreach of the hoisting machiner will soon be exceeded'and a longer trackrequired. By means of these clamps, a pair of rails may then be quicklyand firmly secured to the end of the permanent track. These extensionrails may subsequently be further advanced as necessity requires, andeasily reattached to the permanent track.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, and:

Figure 1 is atop plan view of a track with the extension rails-securedby means of the clamps forming the subjectmatter of the presentinvention,

Figure 2v is a transverse sectional view along line 2--'2 of Figure l,and

Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 2. The reference numeral 10represents a pair of rails forming a permanent track and to the ends ofthese rails a pair of tapering switch points 11 are secured in the usualmanner, by means of fish plates 12 and bolts 13. These switch points areboth tapered in wardly, as seen in Figure 1, so that the outer sides 14of the switch points form an acute angle with the inner parallel lines15 of the rails 10 and switch points 11. Along the tapered sides of theswitch points are placed a pair of extension rails 16 which arepreterably held together by means of a tie rod 17 at their extreme freeends 18, so that the distance between the free ends of the rails isexactly the same as between the rails 10 0t Specification of LettersPatent. Patented lug; 23 1922 Application filed June a, 1922.

Serial No. 565,665.

The extension rails are held to the switch points by means of a pair ofclamps.

These'clamps, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3, 0

each consists of a flat base portion 23 upon which the switch pointflange 20 and the flange 22 of the extension rail 16 rest. This baseportion terminates at one end with jaw 24; reaching around the edge ofthe extension rail flange 22 and the opposite end of the base portion 23of the clamp has a similar jaw 25 engaging the top of the flange 20 ofthe switch point. This jaw is continued inwardly and upwardly to restagainst the top of the flange 20 as well as againstthe web 0;? theswitch point, terminating with a perpendicular portion 27. Extendingtrans-- versely to the base'portion 23 and-thejaws 2 1- and 25, is aflat flange 28 reaching from end to endoi the clamp, as best seen inFigure 2, and in alinement with the base portion 23 are reinforcingwings for the flange 28, forming a cross therewith, seen in Figure 3. Ii

In order not to be affected by gravel or earth adhering to the edges ofthe flanges 2O and'22, the j aws 2 1and 25 are looped, as at 30 and 31,so as to be spaced from the'edges of the flanges. The inner face 32 ofthe upaxis of the clamp-which coincides with the axis of the rails 16and this inclination conforms to the angular taper of the switch points.In this manner. when the clamp is right portion 27 is inclined, asregards the i slipped under the extension rail 16 and coal. or gravelfor instance which is to be removed by means of hoisting and conveymgmachinery carried along the permanent track. The IGlltiliYO distancefrom the ends of the pernianent track and the pile of material 34E.-

supposedly greater than the reach of the hoisting machinery placed atthe end 0t the permanent aclr l0. ln or? der nowto advance the hoistingmachinery, a pair or" the extension rails are laid along the switchpoints ii, and clamped thereto so that the tree encs 18 of the extensionrails nearly touch the ed ot the pile The hoisting and conveyin chinerymay now be run out onto the extension rails and when the material hasbeenremoved up to the line 35, the reach of the hoisting machinery isagain exceeded and the said machinery is then run back on the ierma ettrack while the clamps are loosened and the extension rails 16 advanced,as shown in dot and dash lines at 36 to near the edge oi the pile ormaterial.

The extension rails are again bent at the proper ooint and then again secured by meansot the clamps as already de scribed. This procedure isrepeateduntih finally, the rear ends 33 of the extension rails havereached the switch points ll when no further extension is possible. Thisdone, the switch points 11 are detached from the ends of the'rails 10and attached to the free ends 18 of the extension rails while the rearends of the extension rails are secured, bymeans o1"- fish plates andbolts in the usual manner, to the permanent track 10. Another pair ofeXtensi-ou -s are then secured in a similar manner, to the switch points11, which are now ocated at the free ends of the old extension rai s RIt will be noted that the bend at 19 on the extension rails, is notgreater than'the flexibility of the rails will permit and that this bendmoves gradually nearer the fee ends 33 of the extension rails as thelatter are advanced along the switch points.

It should also be noted that with this an rangement a much quicker andmore accu rate shifting of the rails is possible than'in the usual way,when certain length sections of rails are used and secured by fishplates to the ends of the permanent track. The adjustment of a fewinches in length is now possible instead or an advance of several feeteach time. 7

each rail having opposing jaws adapted to engage with the flanges ofsaid ends and rails respectively. 1

2. In wombinz ionwith a permanent track terminating with a pair of wedgeends rigid secured to the permanent track a pair of ls mating with thesides of said wed ends and. clamping member for each rail v ng opposingjaws adapted {co-engage wtn the flanges of said ends and rails respectively. i r

S. in combination with permanent track terminating with a pair of wedgeends rigidly secured to the permanent track, a pair of rails mati withthe sides of said wedge ends, and aclamping member for each rail hai ingopposing jaws adapted to engage with the flanges of said ends and railsrespectively, said clamping member having a body portion fit ing beneaththe flanges 01 the rails and wedge ends. r

4;. In combination with a'perma'nent track terminating with a pair ofwedge ends rigidly secured to the permanent traclna pair of rails matingwith the sides of said wedge ends, and a clamping member for each railhaving opposing jaws adapted to-engage with the flanges of said endsandrails respectively. said clamping member having a body portion iingbeneath theflanges of the rails and edge endsand one of said jaws havinrlined innersurtace of the ame amgulari 213 the wedge ends.

5. A clamp for rails comprising integral tl'iez'ewith a base portion anda loop shaped jaw at e ch end thereof; said base portion providing aseat for rail flanges and said l adapted to engage the top face of saidflanges; one of said jaws having an. abutment wall runningperpendicularly to said base portion and at an inclination to the axisof the clamp and adapted toenga'ge with the web of a rail, said baseandfjaws having perpendicular and transverse reinforcing flanges. r

- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

wnimAi iri-mmtnf a 8.

